Ironing apparatus



Nov. 6, 1945; c. J. DAVIES 2,388,392

IRONING APPARATUS Original Filed March 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

CLARENCE J .DAVI ES ATTORNEYS 2 9 3. 8 oo 3, 2 m V N DA .6 m m I 5 4 9 1 6 v 0 Original Filed March 11 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEVIVTOR.

v CLARENCE J.DAVIES BY M MN ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 6, 1945 IRONIN G APPARATUS Clarence J. Davies. Detroit, Mich; assignor to National Automotive Fibres, Inc., Detroit, Mich.,

a corporation of Delaware Original application March 11, 1940, Serial No. 323,430, now Patent No. 2,383,849, dated August 28, 1945. Divided and this application July 26, 1943, Serial No. 496,206

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to ironing apparatus such as that adapted to smooth the surface of fibrous sheet material having a thermoplastic binder therein and constitutes a division of my application filed March 11, 1940, bearing Serial No. 323,430 and matured into Patent No. 2,383,849 of August 28, 1945.

According to the present invention a fibrous insulating material of sheet-like construction, havwith the result that the entire web has a multiplicity of zones wherein the fibrous materials are bonded together.

After softening of the thermoplastic material the web is compressed to the desired thickness,

preferably leaving the same comparatively soft and resilient. Since the thermoplastic binder material is soft at this time, the web tends to remain at the thickness to which it was compressed. Further operations are performed to improve the surface of the web in a manner to increase its smoothness and its strength. These subsequent operations may take numerous forms, and in its simplest form comprises .the step of smoothing the surface of the web while the thermoplastic binder is still in a soft or plastic condition. According to the preferred embodiment, the web after compression is cooled by circulation of cooling air therethrough and thereabout in a manner to cause the thermoplastic material to set. Subsequently the material is treated by providing sliding contact between one surface of the web and a smooth heated surface. Thisoperation is referred to herein as ironing and serves the purpose of first softening the thermoplastic material adjacent the surface without softening the thermoplastic material within the body of the web. The sliding contact between the surface of the web and the surface of the ironing element smooths the surface and compacts the fibrous material at the surface without compacting the fibers in the interior of the web where the thermoplastic binder has already set.

With the foregoing general remarks in view, it is accordingly an object of the present invention to produce a new article of manufacture in the form of a fibrous sheet material having smooth, compacted surfaces.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sheet material composed of partly compressed fibrous material retained in compressed state by means of a binder and having surfaces substantially smooth and compacted and having an increased amount of binder therein.

More specifically it is a further object of the present invention to produce fibrous material of the character described by a, method which in-v cludes the steps of heating and smoothing the surface of a fibrous sheet material having a thermoplastic binder therein. More specifically it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for producing the product described, in which means are provided for advancing a web of fibrous material containing a thermoplastic binder in sliding contact past a heated smooth element for the purpose of smoothing or ironing the surface of the web.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for producing the product described, which comprises means for continuously advancing a fibrous web containing a thermoplastic binder, means for compressing the web to a desired degree, means for causing the binder to set, and means effective thereafter for softening the binder through a shallow zone adjacent a surface of the web, in conjunction with means for smoothing the surface of the web. 1

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds, "and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating the complete apparatus for treating the binder impregnated web;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side, elevation of the ironing structure;

Figure 3 is a top plan viewof the ironing structure shown in Flgure2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure Referring now to the drawings, and more par-- ticularly toFigure 1 thereof, I 0 is a heating device for heating and softening the thermoplastic material dispersed in powdered form throush the web ll of fibrous material, and li is a sealing chamber which constitutes a part of said heating device. Rolls ll, I4 and ll are provided for carrying bands or belts ll adapted to contact the edges of the fibrous web and to seal the same. A foraminous conveyor belt I1 is carried .by rolls ll, ll and il for supporting the fibrous web and for permitting the forced circulation of heated air therethrough. Air from a suitable blower (not shown) is forced through a conduit ii to the sealing chamber ii and returns through a conduit ii to the blower ii. The fibrous web enters the chamber li between the rolls ll and Il and leaves the chamber between the rolls I4 and il. Preferably the rolls ll and il are close enough to each other to compress the web a desired degree.

After having been compressed to a desired degree, the web passes next to a cooling device indicated generally at i ll, which. has a supporting conveyor belt lll carl'ied by rolls lli, lll

and Ill. The belt lll advances the fibrous material ll over a box lll connected to a suction conduit Ill adapted to draw air downwardiy through and around the web ll to cool assasos:

the same and to cause the thermoplastic binder therein to set.

After cooling, the fibrous web ll advances past a surfacing apparatus indicated generally at ill, which comprises a first ironer ill and a second. ironer ili. As the material advances beneath the first ironer ill it is supported by suitable means, not shown in this figure, engaging a conveyor belt ill which causes the fibrous material to be held in light but firm friction contact with the lower smooth surface of the ironer ill.

The conveyor belt ill drops away from the plane of advance of the fibrous web ll around a roll ill to provide space for the second ironer ili. A second short conveyor belt ill is mounted between 'rolls ill and ill which causes the fibrous material to be positively advanced in light but firm pressure contact against the upper surface of the heated iron ill. The completed material is advanced on the conveyor ill toward the end roll ill at which time it is in completely finished condition.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, I have illustrated the ironing apparatus as comprising an upper ironer ill and a lower ironer ili. The ironer ill comprises a box ill supported at its ends by a pair of uprights ill carried by the frame ill. Suitable threaded adjusting means ill are provided for varying the height of the ironer ill. The box ill is provided with insulating material and carries heating elements indicated generally at ill. Carried at the lower side of the box ill is the ironing element ill, which preferabl is a highly polished, smooth metal plate having a rounded end ill. The conveyor belt ill intermediate the rolls ill and ill is supported by a plate ill so that the fibrous material ll as it is advanced underneath the ironing element ill is retained in firm but light pressure contact therewith. The plate ill, as best seen in Figure 4, is carried by an angle iron ill, bolted or otherwise secured to the frame ili. Preferably the temperature of the ironing element ill is automatically kept constant and at such a level that the thermoplastic material at the upper surface of the web ll and to a shallow depth therein is again softened. The pressures employed are sufiicient to compress the fibrous material through the heated zone in which the thermoplastic material has again been softened. The malor body portion of the fibrous material in which the thermoplastic binder is not again softened by the ironin element ill is not'substantially compressed. It is found that this operation gives a much smoother surface to the completed material than would otherwise be possible, and in addition it substantially strengthens the surface. The reason for this is readil apparent when it is considered that the surface produced by this operation comprises what might be called a thin shell of substantially compressed fibrous material having the thermoplastic binder concentrated therein due to the compression of the surface layer,

After the material has advanced past the first ironer ill it then passes the second ironer ili, which is substantially identical. The ironer ili has heating elements iil, identical with the heating element ill carried in the box ill of the first ironer ill. An ironing element iil is carried in heat transfer relation to the heatin elements iil and is heated thereby. Ironing element iil is identical with the element ill previously described.

Means are provided for applying a predetermined light pressure to the fibrous material ll as it passes the second ironer ili and this comprises the rolls ill and ill and a conveyor belt ill therebetween. The rolls ill and i" are supported by a frame iil, adjustably carried by the uprights iil located at opposite sides of the advancing web. Vertical adjustment of the frame iil is provided for by threaded adlustlnl means iil, threaded Onto the uprights iil. Vertical adjustment of the frame iil varies the pressure which may be applied to the fibrous material. The frame iil carries a depending plate iil by suitable brackets iil and the plate iil contacts the belt ill which is advanced at the same speed as the fibrous material ll. In

I able tightening sprocket ill.

. additions, modifications,

While I have illustrated and described several specific embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various omissions, combinations-and substitutions may be made which will be within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I'claim as my invention is:

1. Apparatus for smoothing the lower surface of fibrous sheet material as the latter is advanced in a predetermined direction, comprising a frame, an ironing plate fixed to said frame and having an upper smooth heated ironing surface engaging and forming a seat for the lower surface of said advancing fibrous sheet material, and means for maintaining the lower surface of said fibrous sheet material in firm but light pressure ironing contact with said heated ironing surface, including an endless belt having a flight disposed over and in surface to surface engagement with the fibrous sheet material on i Y aeaasaa 3 of av'fibrous sheet-as the latter-is-advanced in a predetermined direction, comprising a frame, an

ironing plate rigid with sai frame and having an upper smooth heated ironing surface engaging and forming a seat for an advancing fibrous sheet, and means for maintaining the lower surface of said advancing sheet in firm but light pressure ironing contact with said heated iron-v ing surface, including uprights on said frame at opposite sides of said ironing plate, a pressure 1 plate above said ironing surface, a support for said pressure platesadjustably mounted on said uprights, rolls carried by said support at opposite edges of said pressure plate, and an endless belt reeved on said rollsand having a flight extend- 5 ing between and disposed in surface to surface engagement with the pressure plate and fibrous sheet so as to transfer to the advancing fibrous sheet the pressure exerted/by said pressure plate.

port and pressure plate so that the flight aforesaid offsaid conveyor will maintain the advancing fibrous sheet material in firm but light pressure ironing contact with the ironing surface of said ironing element.

CLARENCE J DAVIES. 

